Police investigating alleged assaults at St. Michael’s College School

Pornographic videos depicting the incidents circulating online, police believe; students expelled by school

Two alleged assaults, one sexual, involving students from St. Michael’s College School are being investigated by Toronto police and students have been expelled from the school.

A statement issued by police said officers at 13 Division and the Child and Youth Advocacy Centre were made aware of the first assault on Nov. 14.

“Yesterday afternoon, after receiving numerous emails and information that media had received from various people, officers from 13 Division attended the school,” police media relations officer Caroline de Kloet told Streeter on Nov. 15.

That led to a second alleged assault being investigated.

Police believe videos depicting the alleged assaults are currently being circulated online and through social media channels. Anyone who has the video is in possession of child pornography and is advised to delete them or face criminal charges, police say.

The Toronto Star has reported seeing two videos depicting two separate instances of assault, in one of which a young teen is held down by boys in a locker room and sexually assaulted with what appears to be a broomstick.

St. Michael’s, an all-boys private school on Bathurst Street at St. Clair Avenue West, addressed the situation through a press release, stating it is shocked and dismayed by the alleged incidents.

“The school has zero tolerance for such behaviour,” the statement said. “The school administration promptly conducted an internal investigation, including meeting individually with the students involved and their parents.

“As a result, swift and decisive disciplinary action has taken place, including expulsions.”

The school apologized for the situation and reinforced its commitment to promoting “respect for others in the school and in the community”.

St. Mike’s principal Greg Reeves informed the community through a personal email, re-enforcing the school’s message.

“Our concern is first and foremost with the safety and well-being of our students and we are shocked and heartbroken that such incidents have taken place at our school,” he wrote, adding the administration addressed the student body in a formal assembly Nov. 15. Grade 9 students participating in the Take Our Kids to Work Day program were to be addressed the following day.

No further comment from St. Mike’s was provided.

The police investigation is ongoing.

“Our focus of this investigation is on the well-being of the victim,” de Kloet said of the first alleged assault. “We’re not disclosing any of the particulars at the moment because of the sensitive nature.”